Fish line reel



'Fell 25, 1941. F Q GRISWOLD 2,233,208

FISH LINE REEL Filed Jan. a, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fb- 25, 1941 F. c. GRlswoLD FISH LINE REEL Filed Jan. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FISH LINE REEL Frederick C. Griswold, Port Jefferson, N. Y.

Application January 8, 1940, Serial No. 312,995

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fish line reels of the type shown in my U. S. Patents Nos. 2,120,068 and 2,120,069 granted June 7, 1938, wherein a finger slide mounted on the front tul bular extension of the reel casing is operatively connected with a friction clutch carried by a cross shaft rotatable in the casing, for bringing the clutch into more or less frictional contact with a spool rotatable on the cross shaft.

In the construction shown in my above-mentioned patents, the operative connectio-n between the finger slide and the friction clutch is rendered yieldable for preventing a harsh or undue binding effect of the clutch shoe when moved into contact with the spool, by providing a yielding cam extension on the slidable bar and in position to lactuate -the rock lever pivoted on one side of the reel casing.

20. An object of the present invention is to provide l a more durable yand efficient operative connection between the linger slide and the friction clutch, by providing a rigid cam extension on the -slidable bar and yieldably mounting the rock lever for 251= movement laterally of the reel casing so that a harsh or undue binding effect of the clutch shoe is prevented when said clutch shoe is moved into contact with the spool.

It Will further be noted that, with the construction disclosed in my above-mentioned patents, the degree of application of the clutch shoe is limited by the throw of the linger slide, making it difficult to accurately adjust the operation of the friction clutch for varying the frictional resistance offered to rotation of the spool in the direction which results in paying out the line. Also, such frictional resistance may not be increased beyond the point afforded by operation of the finger slide for the full length of its stroke.

Another important object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide for ready and accurate adjustment of the maximum degree of application of the friction clutch, which is possible through operation of lthe finger slide for its complete stroke. I accomplish this by mounting .the rock lever for movement bodily in a direction laterally of the reel casing and by providing manually operable means for latenally adjusting such rock lever so as to vary the normal position of the friction clutch with respect to the spool. Also, the adjusting means for the rock lever is Yieldable or resilient for permitting corresponding lateral vyielding of the rock lever bodily with respect to the reel casing so as to prevent the above-men- .tioned harsh or undue binding effect of the clutch shoe when moved into contact with the spool.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 5

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a reel constructed in accordance with the present invention, .-together with the adjoining fore and butt portions of a fishing rod.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view looking to- 10 Ward the right of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sec-tion on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudi- 15 nal section on line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an inner face View of the housing and spring which is secured to a side of the reel casing to enclose the rock lever and adjacent parts of the operative connection between the 20 finger slide and the friction clutch.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the pr-esent device has been shown as including a reel casing comprising side plates I and 2, and front and rear tubular extensions 3 and 4 which are i'ltted 25 to receive the fore land butt portions 5 and 6 of a fishing rod.

A cross shaft 'I is rotatably mounted in the side plates I and 2 of the reel casing, and a reel spool is rotatably mounted on the cross shaft l. This spool comprises a cylindrical -sleeve 8 and end plates 9 and I0 which are `developed into flanges II and I2. The inner faces of the side plates I and 2 of the casing are provided with inwardly directed annular flanges I3 and I4 which overlap and serveV as guards for the peripheral edges of the spool flanges II and I2.

The side plate I of .the casing has a central recess I5 within which is located a one-way brake for locking the cross shaft to the casing against reverse rotation. This one-way brake is of well known construction and of the roller type including rollers I6 arranged in cam recesses of a disk I 'l which is fixed Ito the cross shaft l. A hand 45 crank I8 is shown as pivoted eccentrically on the disk I'l :as described in my above-mentioned Patent No. 2,120,068, but it may be provided as described in my above-mentioned Patent No. 2,120,069. 50

A manually operable friction clutch is provided to connect the spool to the cross shaft when the clutch is applied. This clutch is located within the sleeve 8 of the spool and comprises a shoe 23 yieldingly held away from its frictional contact.55

yContact of such lever wtih the cam 30.

.wall of the housing 32.

with the inner face of the sleeve 8 by spring means 24 carried by a sleeve 25 fixed to the cross shaft 1 by a set screw 26 or the like.

Manually operable control means is provided for the friction clutch, comprising a finger slide 21 mounted on the top of the front tubular extension 3 of the reel casing in position to be readily operated by the thumb of rthe user, said slide being operatively connected tothe clutch shoe 23. This operative connection includes ,a rod 28 within the tubular front extension 3 and connecting the finger slide 21 with a bar 29 slidable on the side plate 2 of the reel casing, The slidable bar.`

29 is provided with a cam extension 30 engaging the outer arm of a rock lever 3| pivoted in brackets 3 la secured to the outer face of the side plate 2. A housing 32 is removably attached to the side plate 2 and covers .the rock lever 3| andadjacent parts. The inner arm of rock lever 3| engages the outer end of a pin 33 slidable lengthwise in the cross shaft 1, the other end of which pin engages one arm of a bell crank lever 34 pivoted on sleeve 25 fixed 'to 4the cross shaft. The other arm of this bell crank lever 34 engages a projection 35 on the clutch shoe 23. Thus far described,

the construction is generally similar to that shown in my above-mentioned patents.

In accordance with the present invention, the brackets 3 la are provided with slots 43 which are elongated in a direction parallel with the cross shaft 1 and in which are pivotally andl slid-ably engaged the trunnions 4| of a rock shaft 42 supporting lever 3|. The lever 3| is thus bodily movable laterally relative to the brackets 3|a, being more particularly tiltable about the pointV of y Thus, by adjusting the position of the lever 3|, the position of pin 33 may becorrespondingly adjusted 'so as to determine the normal position of the clutch 23 with respect tothe sleeve 8. lIn this way, the capacity of -the friction clutch may be varied so as to regulate the degree of resistance to unwinding of the spool when thefinger slide 21 is lfully* retracted. The ladjustment of rock lever 3| is preferably effected by yieldable means so as to prevent a harsh or undue binding effect ofthe clutch shoe when moved into contact with the inner surface of the sleeve 8 byretraction of the finger slide 21. Forthis purpose, I have provided an inwardly bowed spring 43,'one` end of whichy is attached to the housing 32 as at 44, land the intermediate portion of which is arranged to bear on the central portion of the lever 3|. The other end of spring 43 is free and is impinged by the inner end vof an adjusting screw dadjustably threaded through the outer By adjusting the screw 45, the pressure of the spring 43 imposed upon the rock shaft 42 and lever 3| maybe varied so as to yieldingly adjust said lever 3| for the purpose mentioned above. With this arrangement, the cam extension 3|) on the slide bar 29 may be of rigid form as shown. It will be seen that when the finger slide 21'is fully advanced, the spool may unwind freely. As the slide 21 is retracted, the frictional effect on the spool is increased up to the full capacity of the .friction clutch, which capacity may be varied by adjustment of the screw d5 as described above.

It will be evident that various changes may be made in the specific construction' form and arrangement of parts illustrated and described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

4operatively connecting said levers, a slide `bar operable for adjusting the'degree of pre'ssu'reoil What I claim as new is:

1. In a fish line reel, a casing, a cross shaft rotatable therein, aspool rotatable on the cross shaft, a friction clutch attached to the cross shaft and engageable with the spool, manually 5 operated means for bringing the friction clutch into f-rictional contact with the spool, said means including an actuating member having fixed limits Yof movement, an actuated member operatively connected to the clutch, and a third member operatively connecting and bodily movable toward or away from said actuating and aotu- Y ated members, and manually operable means for adjustably limiting the movement of said third member away from said actuating and actuated members for varying the possible degree of application'of the friction clutch.

2. In a fish line reel, a casing, a cross shaft rotatable therein, a spool rotatable on the cross shaft, a friction clutch attached to the crossl shaftand engageable with the spool, manually operated means for bringing the friction clutch into frictional contact with the spool, said means including an actuating member having fixed lim-v its of movement an actuated member `operatively connected to the clutch, and athird member operatively connecting and bodilyV movable toward or away 4from said actuating and actuated members, and manually operable meansvfor ad,- justably limiting the movement ofl said third 30 member away from said actuating and actuated members for varying the possible degree of application of the frictionclutch, said last-named means including a Ispring bearing on said third lmember and means for adjusting the-tension of s35 said' spring for rendering said manually operated means yieldable to prevent harsh or undue binding of the clutch when moved into contact with said spool. v v Y l 3. A fish line reel comprising a spooha casing @il therefor, la friction clutch located within the spool, a linger slide mounted on thecasing so as to have vfixed limits of movement, means op.- eratively connecting the friction clutch and slide, said means comprising a bell crank lever within the spool, a second lever mounted on the casing Vfor pivotal and bodily movement relative thereto, a pin movable axiallyof the spoolV4 and op'- leratively connecting said levers, a slide' baron the casing engaging vthe secondVv lever,` a rodiop-- eratively connecting the slide bar with' the ngr slide, and manually adjustable means for bodily shifting said second lever for varying `thepos'- sible degree of 'application of the clutch by the operation of said finger slide. f v '155 4. A fish line reel comprising'a spool, a casing therefor, a friction clutch located within the spool, a finger slide mountedori the 'casing so as to have xed limits of movement, means op-A eratively connecting the friction clutch and slide, said means comprising a bell crank lever within vthe spool, a second lever mounted on the cas,- ing for pivotaly and bodily. movement, relative thereto, a pinmovable axially of thespool and 15 on the casing engaging the second'lever, a rod operatively connecting the slide bar withv the ger slide, manually adjustable means for bodily shifting said second lever for varying the possible degree of application of theclutch by the opera,- tion of said finger slide, said last-named means comprising a bowed spring bearing 'on said'second lever, and a screw bearing on said vspring K said spring upon said secondlever.l

5. A sh line reel comprising a spool, a casing therefor, a friction clutch located Within the spool, a nger slide mounted on the casing so as to have fixed limits of movement, yielding means operatively connecting the friction clutch and slide, said yielding means comprising a bell crank lever within the spool, a second lever mounted on the casing for pivotal and bodily movement, a pin movable axially of the spool and operatively connecting said levers, a slide bar on the casing having a rigid cam extension engaging the second lever, and a bowed spring bearing on said second lever to yieldingly maintain the latter engaged With said cam extension and said pin. p

6. A sh line reel comprising a spool, a casing therefor, a friction clutch located Within the spool, a ringer slide mounted on the casing so as to have fixed limits of movement, yielding means operatively connecting the friction clutch and slide, said yielding means comprising a bell crank lever within the spool, a second lever mounted on the casing for pivotal and bodily movement, a pin movable axially of the spool and operatively connecting said levers, a slide bar on the casing having a rigid cam extension engaging the s'econd lever, a bowed spring bearing on said second lever to yieldingly maintain the latter engaged with said cam extension and said pin, and manually adjustable means for varying the pressure of said spring on said second lever.

FREDERICK C. GRISWOLD. 

